Data Scientist

Job Title: Data Scientist

Division: Data, Technology and Innovation (DTI)

Department: Digital Intelligence Solutions

• Salary: National (Edinburgh and Leeds) ranging from £43,100 to £50,200 and London from £47,300 to £55,100 per annum (salary offered will be based on skills and experience)
• This role is graded as: Associate level 8 - Regulatory
• Your external recruitment contact is Benjamin via benjamin.paulon@fca.org.uk
• Your internal recruitment contact is Pat via Patrycja.Matachowska@fca.org.uk
• Applications must be submitted through our online portal. Applications sent via social media or email will not be accepted.

About the FCA and team

We regulate financial services firms in the UK, to keep financial markets fair, thriving and effective. By joining us, you'll play a key part in protecting consumers, driving economic growth, and shaping the future of UK finance services.

The Data, Technology and Innovation (DTI) division enables the FCA to be a digital-first, data-led smart regulator by delivering a secure, agile, and cost-effective technology and data ecosystem that drives better decisions, transparency, and operational efficiency.

Sitting within DTI, the Digital Intelligence Solutions team deliver a Digital Unified Intelligence Environment (DUIE) to surface insights for action through tools, dashboards and bespoke analysis.

Our Consumer Intelligence & Analytics (CI&A) team transforms large volumes of consumer-generated data from social media, review platforms, complaints channels and other external sources into actionable intelligence that supports regulatory decision-making and helps identify emerging consumer harms

Role responsibilities

• Developing advanced analytical models using consumer and market datasets to identify emerging risks, trends and consumer harm signals while applying statistical, machine learning and natural language processing techniques to extract insights from structured and unstructured data
• Designing, testing and deploying scalable analytical solutions that improve the efficiency, consistency and impact of consumer intelligence activities
• Automating analytical processes and data workflows to reduce manual effort, improve repeatability and increase team effectiveness
• Building and maintaining analytical products, dashboards and tools that support evidence-based decision-making and enhance the FCA's ability to identify and respond to emerging consumer issues
• Evaluating, validating and maintaining robust, explainable analytical methodologies and outputs that are suitable for regulatory use
• Working collaboratively with stakeholders to understand business problems, define analytical requirements and translate complex findings into practical recommendations
• Communicating the impact and value of CI&A's work through presentations, demonstrations, written reports, stakeholder engagement activities and the promotion of analytical best practice and capability development
• Supporting data governance, data protection and compliance activities including DPIAs, data-sharing assessments and compliance reviews while ensuring all analytical work adheres to governance standards, ethical principles and relevant consumer data legislation

Skills required

Minimum

• Demonstrated experience applying statistical analysis and data science techniques to solve complex business problems, delivering insights that inform strategic decision-making and operational improvements
• Experience analysing and interpreting large, complex datasets using Python, SQL and related technologies, identifying trends and risks
• Prior experience developing dashboards, visualisations and analytical reports, translating technical findings into clear recommendations for both technical and non-technical stakeholders, enabling data-driven decisions

Essential

• Solid knowledge of data science methodologies, including statistical modelling, predictive analytics, machine learning and natural language processing
• Experience developing scalable analytical solutions and designing repeatable workflows focused on automation, efficiency and reproducibility
• Proficient Python programming skills, with experience using analytical libraries, data processing frameworks and working with large datasets
• Ability to critically evaluate analytical outputs, clearly communicating assumptions, limitations and sources of uncertainty
• Experience translating ambiguous business problems into structured analytical approaches and actionable recommendations for stakeholders
• Skilled in engaging with stakeholders to gather requirements, help shape decisions and deliver meaningful business outcomes
• Solid understanding of data governance, data quality and regulatory considerations when handling sensitive data, alongside the organisational skills to manage multiple priorities in agile delivery environments

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Colleagues spend a minimum of 50% of their working time in the office each month (60% for Directors and Executive Directors) across our London, Leeds and Edinburgh offices
• Non-contributory pension (8-12% depending on age) and life assurance at eight times your salary
• Private healthcare with Bupa, income protection, and 24/7 Employee Assistance
• 35 hours of paid volunteering annually
• A flexible benefits scheme designed around your lifestyle

For a full list of our benefits, and our recruitment process as a whole visit our benefits page.

Our values & culture

Our colleagues are the key to our success as a regulator. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture: one that's free from discrimination and bias, celebrates difference, and supports colleagues to deliver at their best. We believe that our differences and similarities enable us to be a better organisation - one that makes better decisions, drives innovation, and delivers better regulation.

If you require any adjustments due to a disability or condition, your recruiter is here to help - reach out for tailored support.

We welcome diverse working styles and aim to find flexible solutions that suit both the role and individual needs, including options like part-time and job sharing where applicable.

Disability Confident: our hiring approach

We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, and therefore, people or individuals with disabilities and long-term conditions who best meet the minimum criteria for a role will go through to the next stage of the recruitment process. In cases of high application volumes, we may progress applicants whose experience most closely matches the role's key requirements.

Useful information and timeline

• Advert Closing: 26th Oct 11:59pm
• CV Review/Shortlist: 28th Oct
• Interviews: 9th Nov- 13th Nov
• Your Recruiter will discuss the process in detail with you during screening for the role, therefore, please make them aware if you are going to be unavailable for any date during this time.